Market Research Consultants in Los Angeles to Watch for in 2025

Los Angeles Area Market Research Experts to Know in 2025

In Los Angeles, market research isn't just a support function, it’s the compass guiding product strategy, brand identity, and user experience in one of the most creatively saturated markets in the world. From Burbank’s entertainment giants to Anaheim’s fast-scaling startups, market research consultants in the LA region play a behind-the-scenes role in shaping everything from brand strategy to public policy.

At Digital Reference, we believe in the power of operators who build systems quietly and insightfully behind the scenes. That’s why we’ve carefully researched, evaluated, and curated this list of market research professionals in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area.

Some are founders. Others are freelancers. And a few lead research at agencies you’ve probably already heard of. But all of them share one thing: they’re reshaping how insights work in 2025.

Looking to hire a consultant, build a partnership, or benchmark your strategy against the best in LA? These are the names to know.

👉 Want more insight-led strategy tips? Explore our feature on collecting professional references or dive into our guide for founders and operators navigating interim leadership.

The Consultants

Shawn Nejad

Search Engine Projects | LinkedIn

Shawn Nejad is the founder and driving force behind Search Engine Projects, but his title doesn’t fully capture his unique approach to market research. Rather than traditional methods, Shawn weaves SEO analytics, behavioral tracking, and competitive intelligence into market insights for high-growth companies across Southern California.

💡 What sets him apart?

• 🟡 Shawn's work highlights the importance of a strong digital presence while leveraging search behavior to uncover emerging demand trends
• 🟡 He leads cross-functional research projects that blend market research with performance marketing data
• 🟡 His clients include healthcare providers, legal firms, and local businesses across Anaheim and Orange County

Kim Atkins

Atkins Research Global | LinkedIn

With over 30 years of experience, Kim Atkins has built Atkins Research Global into one of Los Angeles’ most trusted qualitative research facilities. Her facility in Los Feliz is a go-to for agencies and brands seeking high-quality qualitative work in LA’s fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

💡 Why we’re watching Kim in 2025:

• 🟡 Kim is a seasoned qualitative research operator with hundreds of successful studies under her belt
• 🟡 Offers end-to-end support including screener design, participant recruitment, and live moderation
• 🟡 Known for deep knowledge of consumer behavior, especially in urban metro environments

Mike Murphy

BrandIQ | LinkedIn

Bringing 20+ years of experience to his role as CEO and Founder at BrandIQ, Mike Murphy doesn’t just analyze data, he uncovers brand narratives hidden within it. From custom segmentation studies to deep attitudinal profiling, Mike is a master at turning insights into brand-building strategy.

💡 Why Mike’s a standout:

• 🟡 Leads innovation pipeline research for Fortune 100 CPG brands
• 🟡 Has helped major LA-based companies pivot during economic downturns through smarter consumer intel
• 🟡 Known for fostering long-term client partnerships, sometimes spanning over a decade

Steve Escoe

Facts 'n Figures | LinkedIn

Steve Escoe is the CEO of Facts 'n Figures, a premier Southern California fieldwork firm with decades of local expertise. From intercept interviews in Santa Monica to mobile ethnography across SoCal suburbs, Steve has overseen thousands of in-person studies that get to the root of consumer behavior.

💡 Why he’s essential to LA insights:

• 🟡 His team conducts face-to-face qualitative and quantitative research across the Southland
• 🟡 Pioneered “recruit anywhere” methodologies long before remote research became a trend
• 🟡 Deep knowledge of California’s regulatory and demographic nuances

Dan Braker

Breakthrough Research | LinkedIn

Dan Braker is the president of Breakthrough Research, a boutique insights consultancy focused on brand positioning, messaging strategy, and cultural alignment. With roots in entertainment and deep ties to LA’s creative economy, Dan is the go-to for companies navigating audience authenticity.

💡 Why Breakthrough Research matters now:

• 🟡 Dan leads brand tracking programs for streaming platforms and entertainment companies
• 🟡 His work often spans consumer journey mapping and audience segmentation
• 🟡 A strong advocate for inclusive, Gen Z-forward research design

Jenny Karubian

Ready to Launch Research | LinkedIn

Jenny Karubian runs one of the most agile research firms in LA: Ready to Launch Research. Based in downtown LA, her firm specializes in rapid-cycle research, political polling, and community-driven studies. Jenny’s background in politics and policy gives her work a unique social impact edge.

💡 What makes Jenny stand out:

• 🟡 Focuses on mission-driven organizations and civic engagement
• 🟡 Leads multilingual field teams that operate across all of LA County
• 🟡 Highly responsive research models, often delivering insights in under 10 days

Leila Belmahi

Mariner's Bow | LinkedIn

Leila Belmahi is the founder of Mariner’s Bow, a strategy and research consultancy that specializes in customer insight, growth strategy, and future-facing scenario planning. With a background that spans both academic research and product strategy, Leila brings an unusually rigorous lens to how insights fuel innovation.

💡 What to know about Leila:

• 🟡 Known for framework-driven insight processes used by tech and healthcare startups
• 🟡 Has advised on user research for product design across multiple platforms
• 🟡 Runs workshops that blend qualitative insight with systems mapping

Gabor Buday

LinkedIn

Gabor Buday is a research consultant with a sharp eye for data storytelling and analytics. Based in the LA metro area, Gabor brings precision and detailed insights, offering B2B clients custom dashboards, segmentation studies, and competitive market models.

💡 Why Gabor’s on our radar:

• 🟡 Has built data integration models for manufacturing and logistics clients
• 🟡 Offers visual storytelling tools that elevate research deliverables to strategy documents
• 🟡 Consults on data architecture and survey design simultaneously, a rare combination in boutique research

Julia Ko

LinkedIn

Julia Ko is a marketing strategist who brings a unique perspective to LA’s research ecosystem: part strategist, part UX researcher, part systems thinker. Her portfolio includes tech startups, health orgs, and cultural nonprofits across Southern California.

💡 Julia’s expertise includes:

• 🟡 Deep user journey work, including accessibility-focused ethnography
• 🟡 Specializes in co-creation workshops and participatory research
• 🟡 Strong believer in slow research, and the vital importance of taking the time to listen, synthesize, and reflect

Hai Le

LinkedIn

Hai Le is a freelance market research expert with deep roots in brand tracking, communications testing, and innovation research. His freelance practice has supported everything from major ad campaigns to product development cycles.

💡 What makes Hai unique:

• 🟡 Works across CPG, telecom, and retail sectors
• 🟡 Known for his strong moderation skills and hybrid qual-quant background
• 🟡 Creates visually dynamic, client-ready deliverables that drive decisions

Wrapping It Up

Los Angeles is more than just Hollywood; it’s a complex, diverse, and dynamic metro where market research consultants shape cultural understanding, drive brand decisions, and bring audiences into the room.

This list is our curated snapshot of who’s moving the needle in 2025 in the LA metropolitan area, from fieldwork legends to strategy-first freelancers. At Digital Reference, our goal is to emphasize consultants and specialists driving innovation and strategy across the country. Through our carefully curated lists, we aim to help teams find their next market research partner and team member. Curious how to choose the right one? Read our guide on marketing professionals and their unique industry role.

Whether you’re in Long Beach or Los Angeles, Digital Reference is your go-to source for vetted, research-forward operators who help great companies grow.

Let’s build smarter together.